Guitar Summit

Brian Doyle - ​It is no surprise that Brian Doyle has become the compelling musician we now see on stage. Music was as important as first steps within the vibrant Celtic music scene he was born to on Cape Breton Island, and the rich musical soil of his own Chisholm family was a perfect launching pad for the musical career that was to follow.

On stage since the age of fourteen, Brian has played the Rock and Blues scene with many successful groups including his own project "Greyloch," A Celtic Rock fusion group nominated for an East Coast Music Award - Rock Album of the Year, 2000. Happy to play with any others on the world stage, Brian's versatility is in demand and has him touring the U.S., Canada, U.K. and Europe. Having performed at Broad Cove for many years, Brian brings a unique Celtic presence to our stage.

Scott MacMillan - ​Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1955, Scott is recognized as one of Canada’s leading musicians, and as playing an integral role in widening the audience for the music of Atlantic Canada both nationally and internationally. Equally at home on the podium, in the studio or behind a guitar, Mr. Macmillan is in great demand as a music director, performer/conductor, arranger and producer. He completed a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics at Dalhousie University, where he also took courses in music, and continued his musical training at Humber College in Toronto. During his school years he worked as a guitar player and subsequently spent five years touring as part of Rita MacNeil’s band. His Scott Macmillan Sextet was a winner in the Atlantic region for his original compositions in the Alcan Montreal Jazz Festival in 1987. CBC’s Opening Night in January of 2003.An exceptional guitarist, Scott Macmillan has been nominated seven times for ECMA’s, receiving the Instrumental Artist of the year Award in 1988 and Best Classical Recording for Bach Meets Cape Breton with Puirt a Baroque in 1995. His other recordings include Songs of the Cape with The Octet, Guitar Souls with David MacIsaac, and Scott Macmillan Presents the Minnie Sessions volumes, 1, 2 and 3, with guest musician friends. In the spring of 2000, Mr. Mac Millan and his Minnie Session concept were a weekly feature during a 13-week live to air CBC Radio national series, “The Nova Scotia Kitchen Party.” Scott’s latest album, 'Within Sight of Shore', tells the tragic story of the sinking of HMCS Esquimalt, told through music and film.

​James Maclean-Hailing from East Lake Ainslie, Cape Breton, James MacLean has been playing music for over 15 years. He started from a young age taking piano lessons from the late Marianne Jewell, but then migrated towards guitar. It was in his late teens when he began lessons with Cape Breton guitar sensation, Brian Doyle, that his love for traditional Cape Breton music began to blossom. After high school, James decided to pursue a degree in music, and under the tutelage of Scott MacMillan, earned his Bachelor of Music from Dalhousie University in 2015. James can be heard playing alongside his aunt Karen Beaton a few times each summer during her weekly concerts in Mabou and Antigonish, as well as various other events around Inverness County. James does his best to emulate his former teachers when flat-picking Traditional Scottish tunes, and other genres such as classical and bluegrass. He hopes to release a solo album in the near future

Matthew Fraser-July 13th, 1999 Matthew Fraser was born into the arms of Doug and Carrie Fraser of Inverness Cape Breton. Being a grandchild of the legendary step dancer Willie Francis Fraser meant Matthew was surrounded by music and all art forms his entire life. Matthew began taking Celtic piano lessons from Marianne Jewell at a young age, eventually moving onto becoming a rock and blues electric guitar player. Within two months Matthew had put a band together and began taking lessons from Brian Doyle, Laurel Browne, and Scott MacMillan, expanding his creative mind, opening himself up too many more styles of music such as Celtic, Flamenco, and Jazz. Now you can find Matthew studying music at Dalhousie University and playing in his bands ‘Bear Le Friends” and the “Matthew Fraser Band.”